If you didn't see Thursday's House Armed Services Committee hearing on the defense budget, you missed some penetrating questioning by Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia.  Addressing Admiral Robert Willard, commander of the Navy's Pacific fleet,  Johnson queried, in relation to the Navy's desire to house 8,000 additional troops on the island of Guam, "My fear is that the whole island will become so overpopulated that it will tip over and capsize."  Hmmmm, I thought.  What does this obviously brilliant public servant know that I don't?  Could evil forces be secretly plotting to separate Guam from its sea floor base?  What a potentially inspired and clever method of terrorism.  Or, have our leaders been lying to us all these years?  Maybe Guam has never been naturally rooted to the sea floor?  Perhaps it has been secured by a clandestine network of government anchors?  Whatever the case, if Guam can be capsized, might there be other truths I've held as fundamental that are incorrect?

• Maybe healthcare for 32 million more people will cut the deficit?
• Maybe a carbon tax won't be a crushing blow to prospects for lower unemployment and economic revitalization?
• Maybe the government can employ every man, woman, and child and simultaneously stimulate the economy?
• Maybe 15 minutes can save me 15% or more?
• Maybe a half dozen or so more government programs will jump start the housing industry more quickly than could the free market?
• Maybe that's John Boehner's natural skin color?
• Maybe President Obama is serious about offshore drilling?
• Maybe Nancy Pelosi doesn't do botox; that's just a "deer in the headlights" stare?
• Maybe Ben Roethlisberger is just a nice, polite boy who happens to be misunderstood?
• Maybe grapefruit juice, when added to vodka, does not act as a slimming agent?
• Maybe I can't wear a hard hat, slap on some Mighty Putty, and secure myself to a steel beam suspended high in the air?
• Maybe Joe Biden is one of the brightest political minds of our time?
• Maybe it's pure coincidence that I become convulsive at the sound of Keith Olbermann's voice (see Kramer and Mary Hart).
• Maybe the Pirates won't lose 100 games this year.
• Maybe Buzz Aldrin really can dance.

And, maybe Big Government is the ticket?

Nah.